Atoms and Molecules Within Fullerenes

在有机动力学项目的资助下，耶鲁大学的桑德斯教授和克罗斯教授将研究产生巴克敏斯特富勒烯内源性诺贝尔气体化合物的插入和释放过程的机制。平衡常数和热力学参数将在理论上和实验上确定原子和小分子在富勒烯内部的结合。将探讨富勒烯内嵌结合中氦的光化学释放。这项研究将研究一种叫做巴克敏斯特富勒烯的新型碳的独特行为，这种碳原子结合在一起形成一个像足球一样的封闭表面。氦原子在非常高的氦压力条件下并入封闭表面内。这种独特形式的材料的行为将被探索。这些化合物可能在医学、制药和材料领域找到新的应用。

With funding from the Organic Dynamics Program Professors Saunders and Cross from Yale University will study the mechanism of the insertion and release process that creates endohedral nobel gas compounds of Buckminsterfullerene. Equilibrium constants and thermodynamic parameters will be theoretically and experimentally determined for the binding of atoms and small molecules in the interior of fullerenes. The photochemical release of helium from endohedral binding in fullerenes will be explored. This research will study the unique behavior of a new form of carbon called Buckminsterfullerene in which carbon atoms are bonded together to form a closed surface like a soccer ball. Helium atoms are incorporated inside the closed surface under conditions of very high pressures of helium. The behavior of this unique form of material will be explored. These compounds may find new applications in the fields of medicine, pharmaceuticals, and materials.